Lubricator



July 22, 192%. 1,502,406

G. P. SIMMONS LUBRI GATOR Filed May 23 1921' Patented July 22, 1924.

1,502,406 PATENT o mc enoaen r. SIMMONS, or HER-KIMER, New roan, assienon 'ro HoRRoc s DESK COMPANY, or HERKIMER, uew'rcax, A CORPORATION on NEW YORK,

LUBRICATOR.

Application filed May 23, 1921. Serial No, 471,699.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, GEORGE P. SIMMONS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Herkimer, in the county of Herkimer and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lubricators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to lubricators, and more particularly to such as are attached to or used with the brasses of railway car journal boxes. The invention is in the nature of an improvement on the structure described and claimed in Letters Patent of the United States granted to G. P. and B. M. Simmons, December 22, 1914, and numbered 1,122,086.

In the patented structure referred to, a

wick composed of metal and of fibrous strands, is used to conduct oil from the bottom of the journal box or other container,

to the journal at or near the edges of the brass or saddle which lies upon the upper side of the journal. This wick is supported and held in position by a bracket which extends the entire length of the brass "on both sides, so that ahorizontal stretch of the wick is caused to lie along the journal close to the under faces of the overhanging edges of the brass.

In the practical use of said device it has been found that the efficient life of the wick is limited by itscompression and consequent choking, a condition apparently due to a slight rocking of the brass in reverse directions in the starting and stopping of the car, or as the car from time to time runs in-one and the reverse direction. This rocking or shiftingof the brass causes the wick to be pinched between the journal an'dthe' bracket, or causes the bracket to be pressed and set firmly against the Wick, so that the latter becomes so compressed or compacted as materially to interfere with its oilabsorbing and feeding capacity. This in turn results, not unfrequently', in the dis carding of the wick before it has become much worn.

I have found that this difiiculty canbe overcome by so changing the form of the wick-supporting means as to leave the wick free throughout the major portion ofthe length of its contact with the journal, and yet so direct and support the wick that it shall maintain contact with the journal.

This I accomplish by providing the brass or saddle with brackets or holders for the wick, at or near each end of the brass and on both sides thereof, and stretching the wick from one to the other bracket or holder of each pair,'-sothat portions of the Wick extending between the brackets or holders of each pair shall be maintained in close contact with the journal. I The brackets may and preferably will be formed integral with the brass or saddle, particularly where entire new brasses are to be supplied, butmay, if desired, be formed separately and secured-to the brasses. The latter construction will permit the adaptation of brasses already in use to receive and utilize efliciently the lubricating wick.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1-isa perspective View of the brass or saddle having the brackets or holders formed integral therewith, the View being taken from the inner or rear end, speak-' ing with reference to the position the brass occupies when in the journal box;

Fig. 2, a top plan view of the same; Fig. 3, a perspective view of the brass looking at the for-ward end and showing the wick in position.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the brass 3 will be seen to be of substantially usual form with horizontally projecting'ledges 5 extending longitudinally along its lower edges, thes being, in the type shown the drawing, of greater width or projection at the forward than at the rear end of the brass. At the rear end of the brass each ledge .5 is provided with a vertical slot 6 which produces an outstanding hanger 7, and this is preferably formed with a depression 8 in its upper edge, as shown. The width of th slot 6 is materially less than the diameter of-the wicking in its. normal shape, so that said wick can be introduced into the slot only when compressed into fiat-' tened form. The opposite or forward'end of the brass3 is formed with a vertical eye or opening 9, of 'suitable size to permit the passage of the wick with reasonable freedom. I

. As shown in Fig. 3, a wick 10 formed of metallic and of fibrous strands interwoven as set forth in iPatent No. 1,122,037 granted to G. P. and B. M. Simmons, December 2 2, 1914, is employed, its free ends being wrapped or bound with wire or metal strands," or with cord or twine, to prevent raveling out or loosening of the strands. This tends to maintain the ends of the wicking'in cylindrical form,and serves, when the wicking is forced into theslots 6, to form a substantially circular head or enlargement, which as the wick is drawn down into the slot, seats itself in the depression 8 of the outer wall of the slot, thereby securely anchoring or looking the wicking against es cape either downward through the bottom or outward through the end of the slot. The brass equipped with the wicking as above described and as shown in the drawing is designed to be used in a car axle journalbox with the usual wedge or key above it, as set forth in Patent No. 1,122,036, previously noted.

A free end of the wick having been engaged in the slot 6 and thereby attached or made fast to the brass, the wick is carried along the lower side of ledge 5, and is passed upward through the eye 9, thence permitted ,tofall in a. loop to the bottom'of the ournal box, then carried above the ledge 5 on the opposite side of the brass, passed downward through the eye or opening 9 thereof, thence carried lengthwiseof the brass beneath the ledge 5 and drawn into the slot 6 at that side ofthe brass, its bound end being finally drawn down andseated in the depression 8 of the. outer wall of the slot on that side of the brass.

The wickingunder this construction and arrangement, lies in contact with the journal throughout substantially the length of the brass and within, or substantially within, the projection of the wider portion of'the ledges The depending loop will hence take'up by absorption, oil from the lower part of the journal. box, and convey it by capillary attraction to the horizontal stretches of the wick lying in contact with thejournal, 1 thus maintaining a' constant and ample supplyof oil to the ournal and the brass. Oil 'will drip from the journal backto the bottom of the box, and may be used over and over with very-slight or' gradual diminution in quantity.

The function and effect of thewi'ck are to feed the oil at -the proper "rateto thejour-i oil fluid regardless of atmospheric conditions. In performing these functions the fiber strands primarily feed the oil, while the metal strands conduct heat from the journal through the body of the wick to the oil in the box. The metal strands also give a desirable stiffness to the wick as a whole, so that between the clips it is held in contact with the journal largely through its inherent rigidity, which tends to prevent its sagging as would a wick wholly of fibrous strands. V

While I prefer for reasons indicated, to employ a wick of the particular character described, 1 do not mean to restrict myself to any special type of wick or feeder.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1- 7 I 1. A brass for use'in car journal boxes having on opposite sides and near its ends, brackets or holders adapted to receive and hold a wick but to leave the sam fully exposed on its outer side in th space between the brackets, said brackets being formed integral with the brass.

2. In combination with a journal box and journal, a brass or saddle fashioned to lie upon said journal, and having near its ends and on opposite sides, brackets or holders integral therewithyto receive and retain an oil-feeding wick; and a wick held and carried. by said brackets and wholly exposed and uncovered on its outer faces in the space between the brackets of each side, said wick extending horizontally from bracket to bracket'on either side of the brass, and fall ing thence to the lower part of the journal box to take up oil therefrom.

3; In combination with-abrass or saddlefor journal boxes, brackets cor holders formed integral therewith at or near lts ends and on opposite sides, said brackets being adapted to maintain a stretch of wicking fronrbracketto bracket on either side of thebrass and to suspend a portion'of'the bracket to bracket, scribed. r

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

, GEORGE RsIM oNsQ- 

